Hub cap lock



May 24, 1955 w. H. CINCEL HUB CAP LOCK Filed March 23, 1953 United States Patent HUB CAP LOCK Walter H. Cincel Dayton Ohio assignor of one-third to David B. Millat and hue-third to Alfred E. Millat, both of Dayton, Ohio Application March 23, 1953, Serial No. 343,961

1 Claim. (Cl. 70-170) This invention relates to a valve stem cap device which cannot be removed without the use of a special key or tool. This invention pertains particularly to a valve stem cap which also locks the hub cap from removal from the wheel upon which it is mounted.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 244,999, filed on or about September 4, 1951, for Tire Valve Cap.

Many automobile wheels have hub caps which have substantially the same diameter as the wheel. uch a hub cap is provided with an aperture through which the valve stem protrudes. One object of this invention is to provide a device which will prevent the theft of this type of hub cap from an automobile wheel.

It is another object of this invention to prevent pranksters and the like from stealing valve caps or from releasing air from tires.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tamperproof cap which may be manufactured at a low cost.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a special cap which will readily fit onto all standard valve stems.

Still another object of this inventlon is to prov de an improved type of tool or key which may be carried on a key chain or the like for removing the valve cap.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the valve stem cap and an operating key.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the valve stem cap of this invention attached to a valve stem of a wheel, tire and hub cap assembly. Figure 2 also d1scloses the manual operation of a key member of this invent1on.

Figure 3 is a side sectional view of a valve stem cap of this invention with part of the disc portion broken away.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side sectional view of an operating key of this invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged, top elevatlonal view of a valve stem cap of this invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral deslgnates a valve stem cap of this invention. The valve stem cap 10 has a housing or body portion 12 provided with an internal cavity. Within the internal cavity is located a cylindrical dust cap 14. The lower end of the housing 12 is provided with an inwardly extending collar 16, which loosely retains the dust cap 14 within the lnternal cavity of the housing 12, so that the dust cap 14 is free to rotate within the cavity, as clearly shown in F1gure 3.

The dust cap 14 is provided with an internal threaded portion 15 which is adapted to threadedly fit upon the end of a conventional valve stem. The end of the dust cap 14, opposite the threaded end, has a specially shaped projection 18. In order to render the dust cap inaccessible to pranksters or thieves, the pro ection 18 1S posi- "ice 2 tioned within a key slot 20 in the end of the housing 12.

For purposes of illustration, the projection 18 is shown' as being hexagonal in form, whereas it is possible to use any one of numerous other shapes.

It will be noted that the projection 18 terminates within the key slot 20, so as to be normally inaccessible. A special tool or key 22 is required for engaging the projection 18. As indicated in Figure 4, this key 22 is provided with a reduced lower end 24 having a hexagonal recess 26 for engaging the hexagonal projection 18. The lower end 24 is of such a diameter that it closely fits within the key slot 20 of the valve stem cap. The main body of the key 22 is knurled, as best indicated at 28, so as to facilitate rotation of the key 22 by hand. As pointed out hereinabove, other shapes than hexagonal forms are used, so that various forms of keys are available. Each key 22 has a recess 26, which is complementary with respect to the shape of the projection 18, making it possible to rotate the dust cap 14 by turning the key 22.

The valve stem cap 10 is placed upon the valve stem by positioning the valve stem cap 10 over the threaded end of the valve stem. The dust cap 14 may be threadedly attached to the valve stem by rotation of the dust cap by means of the key 22. The valve stem cap 10 may be firmly held in one hand while the dust cap 14, within the valve stem cap, is rotatably threaded upon the end of a conventional valve stem 16. Thus, the valve stem cap 10 is retained upon the valve stem due to the fact that the dust cap 14 is threadedly engaging the valve stem. By virtue of this arrangement, pranksters and others who do not have the required tool or key for engaging the projection 18 through the aperture 20 cannot remove the valve stem cap 10 from the valve stem, due

. to the fact that regardless of the amount of rotation of the housing 12, the dust cap 14 will not rotate with respect to the valve stem 16 unless the projection 18 is engaged by the proper key 22.

The upper end of the tool or key 22 is provided with a ring 30 which has a swivel connection with the main body of the key, so that the key may be rotated without rotating the ring 30. This makes it possible to carry the key on a key ring and to use the key without detaching it from the key ring and without making it necessary to rotate the key ring along with the key.

The valve stem cap 10 is provided with a flange 32 which is firmly retained within a peripheral groove in the housing 12, as best shown in Figure 3. The flange 32 may be retained within a groove, as shown, or it may be integrally formed with the housing 12.

A tire, wheel and hub cap assembly is disclosed in Figure 2. A valve stem, on which the valve stem cap 10 is mounted, protrudes outwardly through an orifice formed in a hub cap 40. The flange 32 of the valve stem cap 10 is of greater diameter than the diameter of the orifice in the hub cap. Therefore, it is impossible to remove the hub cap without first removing the valve stem cap 10. In order to remove the valve stem cap 10, it is necessary to use a key 22, as shown in Figure 2. It is thereby possible, by use of this invention, to prevent those who do not have the proper key from removing the valve stem cap and the hub cap from an auto mobile wheel.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A device for preventing the theft and tampering of parts of a motor vehicle, said device including the combination of a hub cap having an orifice, a threaded valve stem'projecting through the orifice, a hub cap lock comprising a cylindrical housing having an internal cavity, said housing having an annular groove adjacent one end thereof, a flange fixedly mounted in said groove, the diameter of the flange being greater than the diameter of the orifice in the hub cap to thereby prevent the removal of the hub cap without removing the hub cap lock, a dust cap rotatably retained within said cylindrical housing, said dust cap threadedly engaging the threaded valve stem, said housing having a key slot in the end thereof opposite said flange, a key engaging projection on one end of the dust cap and aligned With said key slot, and a key member having an end portion adapted to slidably fit within said key slot to engage said key engaging projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,767,884 Heinrich June 24, 1930 2,179,045 Lewis Nov. 7, 1939 2,453,001 De Stefano Nov. 2, 1948 

